German company, InfraTec, now offers a new inline measurement system for monitoring the temperature distribution of the casting mould in components making. Its DIECAST-CHECK detects thermal deviations early on, thereby creating the conditions necessary to
stabilise die casting processes, reliably ensure the quality of castings and reduce scrap.
Unlike spot measurements using pyrometers or thermocouples, DIECAST-CHECK provides a complete thermographic image of the mould surface that shapes the casting (“cavity”). This makes it possible to identify critical areas of the die and make targeted corrections during the ongoing process. The thermographic measurements also provide important data for optimising the quality of the die cast part and the cycle time of the process.
The recorded temperature data can also be processed for each individual production cycle using AI-based algorithms. This will allow to analyze patterns in mould temperature across different batches and, for example, draw conclusions about how to heat the mould more evenly.
Die casting is a highly productive process for the mass production of components made of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and magnesium, as well as their alloys. The processes take place within narrow thermal windows and with short cycle times. Even slight temperature deviations on the cavity surface can compromise the quality of the casting. These deviations occur particularly during the warm-up and start-up phases of a system. Reliable inline temperature monitoring is therefore essential for ensuring an efficient process.
InfraTec’s DIECAST-CHECK automation solution is integrated into the die casting cell’s process control system via industry-standard
interfaces. The DIECAST-CHECK software used is a version of InfraTec’s INDU-SCAN software specifically tailored to the monitoring of die casting processes. It delivers data to the higher-level plant control system, displays the process data on a control screen, and stores all measured values.
